This past spring, Monkey Boy’s car broke down on the side of the road. He called us for help, so we hopped in the car and headed out to rescue him. We couldn’t fix the problem, so we had to wait with him for 90 minutes for a tow truck. Good thing I wore my slippers out of the house for what I thought would be a quick trip! 😉 While we were waiting, I began writing a post in my mind so I could share some tips on what to do if you find your car broken and yourself stranded on the side of the road {preferably NOT in slippers}. Here’s what I came up with:
Get the vehicle off the road: If you can coast to the side of the road {away from any curves or hills}, do that. If the vehicle is so disabled it is stopped where it is, leave it in traffic but DO NOT GET OUT OF THE CAR! So many people are hit and killed each year when they exit their broken down vehicles to try to get to safety. You’re much safer if you’re surrounded by all that metal and steel if someone accidentally plows into you!
Turn on your flashers: Immediately turn on your hazards. If you are in a light traffic area {so no freeways!}, and it’s dark, place whatever emergency lights, cones, flares, whatever red or light up stuff you have in the vehicle about 6 feet behind it to signal to oncoming drivers that there is a stalled vehicle ahead. If your battery is dead so flashers are not an option, pop your hood. Immediately get back in the vehicle after doing so.
Call for help: If you have cell service, call for a tow truck. It’s always best to call family or friends and keep them updated as to what’s going on. If you have no cell service and your hood is popped and hazards are on, start hoping a Good Samaritan pulls over to assist you. If you don’t feel comfortable getting out of the vehicle, roll down your window a bit and ask them to call for help while you remain in the vehicle.
Try to avoid becoming a human pancake: Whatever you do, never try to cross freeway traffic and never stand on the traffic side outside your vehicle for any reason.
Here’s hoping you never have to use any of this advice!!
Stay safe,
~Mavis
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Quote of the Day “All the statistics in the world can’t measure the warmth of a smile.” ~ Chris Hart
Attention Fred Meyer and Kroger Shoppers 
Study first: Check the weekly circular for the store you’re planning on shopping at. What’s on sale? What items are listed that you have coupons for? Does the store have in-store coupons or an app with additional coupons you can check before you go? Also, take that list off the fridge where you’ve been jotting down what you’ve run out of and search for coupons and sales for those items specifically.
Don’t deviate from your list, with one BIG exception: Stick to your list. Buy what’s on it and only what’s on it, except when you see a good sale. Let’s say you have grilled chicken on your menu and you get to the store and they have a blowout on pork chops. Time to do some menu rearranging and sub out that chicken. That works for fruit, too. If you have strawberries as a snack and you get to the store to find strawberries are crazy spendy but they have apples at rock bottom prices, switch out your snack items. But replace, don’t add onto the list. You know how much food you need, so unless you see a stock-up price on non-perishables, you’ll probably end up wasting food, even if it is on sale!
Quote of the Day “You know someone is special to you when you’re literally captivated by them in even the little moments. The slightest thing they say or do, is like watching the universe unfold. And nothing else matters in those moments.” ~ Trevor Driggers
